Research news

2016

Movement of rainforest butterflies restricted by oil palm plantations

Posted on Tuesday 20 December 2016

Scientists at the University of York have found that oil palm plantations, which produce oil for commercial use in cooking, food products, and cosmetics, may act as a barrier to the movement of butterflies across tropical landscapes.

Global Challenges funding to tackle parasitic disease

Posted on Friday 16 December 2016

Professors Jeremy Mottram and Paul Kaye have been awarded two new grants to tackle the parasitic disease leishmaniasis, as part of the new £1.5bn Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

Fighting contaminated land with help from the humble fruit fly

Posted on Wednesday 7 December 2016

Scientists have discovered that a gene found in the common fruit fly can be successfully expressed in a plant and used to detoxify land contaminated with TNT.

Plant 'chemical factory' could produce variety of commercial products

Posted on Tuesday 6 December 2016

A 'chemical factory' on the surface of plant leaves could help produce more commercially useful products, researchers at the University of York have discovered.

Scientists step closer to halting spread of lung cancer

Posted on Friday 25 November 2016

Scientists at the Universities of York and Texas have found that a component of cancer cells, which acts like a 'cellular post office', could be the key to preventing the spread of lung cancer to other parts of the body.

Maintaining connectivity in tropical agricultural landscapes

Posted on Wednesday 16 November 2016

Research directed by scientists at the University of York highlights how oil palm plantations may be barriers to the movement of rainforest species through agricultural landscapes, and highlights the importance of maintaining well connected areas of rainforest.

Why prostate cancer cells develop resistance to treatment

Posted on Monday 24 October 2016

A new study at the University of York has shown that a standard hormone supplement, used to boost energy levels in prostate cancer patients following radiotherapy, could potentially increase the chances of the cancer returning.

Effect of global warming on marine diversity

Posted on Tuesday 11 October 2016

Warming temperatures can reduce marine diversity but increase freshwater species – showing responses to climate change could be habitat dependent.

Personalised medicines approach to prostate cancer

Posted on Tuesday 6 September 2016

Professor Norman Maitland is part of a new £2.6 million award scheme to further understanding of personalised medicine for prostate cancer.

Poaching patrol: new ranger methods decrease illegal activities

Posted on Wednesday 17 August 2016

Ecologists from the University of York have tested a new method to detect and decrease wildlife poaching, using data to better predict where illegal activities occur in protected areas.

Drones to discover more about killer whales

Posted on Wednesday 10 August 2016

Drones will be used to discover more about the social lives of killer whales as part of new research which could help protect the species.

New drugs hope to fight neglected tropical diseases

Posted on Tuesday 9 August 2016

Scientists say they are a step closer to providing effective treatments for three "neglected" diseases after making a chemical which can kill the parasites that cause the illnesses.

Invasive garden ‘super ants’

Posted on Thursday 28 July 2016

Three new infestations of an invasive garden ant - known for building massive colonies of tens of thousands of insects - have been found in the UK this year, with researchers at the University of York warning their impact on biodiversity could be huge.

Viruses turbo-charge bacterial evolution

Posted on Tuesday 5 July 2016

Scientists at the University of York have found new evidence that tiny viruses called bacteriophages turbo-charge the evolution of bacteria that cause lung infections in Cystic Fibrosis patients.

Rare moth in severe decline

Posted on Tuesday 28 June 2016

Numbers of a rare species of moth - found only in York in England – have tumbled in recent years, a team including researchers from the University of York have discovered.

Playing the numbers game - why Jellicoe got his maths right at the Battle of Jutland

Posted on Monday 23 May 2016

Researchers have used mathematical modelling to re-analyse the Battle of Jutland and help shed new light on the biggest naval engagement of World War One.

War against antibiotic resistance

Posted on Tuesday 26 April 2016

Soviet-era treatment could be the new weapon in the war against antibiotic resistance.

New effects of ketamine abuse uncovered

Posted on Monday 21 March 2016

Research conducted by scientists at the University of York has revealed how recreational ketamine abuse damages the bladder.

Antibiotic resistance: it's a social thing

Posted on Tuesday 15 March 2016

Trace concentrations of antibiotic, such as those found in sewage outfalls, are enough to enable bacteria to keep antibiotic resistance, new research from the University of York has found. The concentrations are much lower than previously anticipated, and help to explain why antibiotic resistance is so persistent in the environment.

Using mathematics to improve human health

Posted on Wednesday 3 February 2016

Scientists at the Universities of York and Torino have used mathematics as a tool to provide precise details of the structure of protein nanoparticles, potentially making them more useful in vaccine design.

Stepping beyond our 3D world

Posted on Tuesday 19 January 2016

Since the dawn of time, humans have endeavoured to unravel the laws governing the physical world around us. Over centuries we have tried to discover a Theory of Everything.

Fight against ash dieback

Posted on Wednesday 13 January 2016

Researchers at the University of York led a pioneering study which opens up a new front in the battle against a disease affecting ash trees across Europe.

A far from perfect host

Posted on Monday 4 January 2016

Biologists at the universities of York and Exeter have published new research which shows that an ancient symbiosis is founded entirely on exploitation, not mutual benefit.